Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, a major newly refurbished centre was opened in Waterford which has proven enormously successful in providing a very high-quality social welfare service because all of the IT platforms have been improved. As the Deputy also knows, there is a general reception desk, without glass barriers, where people can ask for the information they want. People in Waterford are very complimentary about the new-style service.

In terms of the waiting period, the waiting period for rent supplement is five to ten days. If there are specific features of the particular cases the Deputy has identified, it would be helpful if he gave me details of those, but that is the particular standard to which we work. I am happy to say that in Waterford in particular there is very close co-operation among the staff in social welfare, organisations and agencies which take an interest in the problems of people who are homeless, and the local authority.

It will be one of the key areas where we will roll out the housing assistance payment which will be of further assistance.

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